anyone want to comment?
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Demographic threat or Not?!
Another article challenging the notion of a doomsday demographic threat...
American aliya doomed to fail
This article is sort of an open letter to nefesh be nefesh and the Jewish Agency stating that en mass aliya from the USA will never happen. As much as I hate too, i would have to agree. Unless some sort of calamity hits the USA causing it to collapse into chaos, the Jews there will remain and eventually dwindle to small pockets of communities, much like the ones we see in Europe today.
As a Soviet born Jew growing up in NYC, I immediately noticed how indistinguishable american jews were from their gentile neighbors. The ate the same food, did the same things, dressed the same, talked the same, etc. We Soviet Jews, however, retained our identities- at least for now, since we were immigrants. I think that is why for me it was easier to move to Israel about 5 years ago... I simply was not as rooted to the US as 3rd and 4th generation Jews. Moreover, when I moved to Israel I couldn't help but notice that many if not most of the American Jews I knew who made aliay were not your typical "american jews". They were mixed with Israeli, or were born in South Africa, Australia, or were religious (orthodox or conservative).
What the author of this article also fails to mention is that for American Jews, being Jewish is based on religion. I've had dozens of arguments with American Jews about this, with religious and secular American Jews. Some Jews I knew would say, "I was born Jewish, but I am not religious", ie, I am no longer really Jewish. Others would say that Jews do have some sort of cultural or "ethnic" identity in addition to religion, but no one can really point out what that it. Unlike Latinos, Asians, and African Americans, Jews do not have specific color of skin or distinct vernacular language (not anymore at least) that set them apart. That is perhaps one reason why Jews are assimilating so fast and are finding it so hard to meaningfully relate to their Jewishness if they are not religious. On the otherhand, all the Soviet Jews I knew saw being Jewish as a nationality (as we were officially recognized in the USSR- in the West they forget that in many countries nationality does NOT = citizenship, for example, Catalan/Spanish, Quebec/Canada, Wallon/Belgium etc). Soviet Jews, like Israelis see themselves as part of a Jewish NATION, not just part of a amorphous Jewish culture and ethnicity like the current generation of American Jews see themselves.
IF the above causes for assimilation are curbed, then we'll see a natural increase in both jewish overall population growth and emigration to Israel.
Without digressing to much into what will inevitably be a volumnious discussion of assimilation and its causes, I see some basic things that can be done to increase Jewish national identity in the USA (and elsewhere in the Diaspora):
- increase Jewish day school enrollment to 80% (at least) with the hekp of subsidies from the organized Jewish community and Charter School/voucher systems
- TEACH HEBREW to attain fluency- that is probably one of the most important contributors to Jewish self preservation. Once, Jews had an all encompassing Yiddish (or Ladino, etc) language and culture to insulate our community and channel our creativity and art. Today, Diaspora Jews have lost their language (in just 1 generation may i add!). Speaking Hebrew fluently would make American Jews stand out in a non threatening way among other Americans, no differently than Latinos, Chinese, Indian and a myriad other linguistic minorities.
The two points above are just a start of course- feel free to suggest your own ideas!!!
Tampering with the Supreme Court
Here we go again, the Extremists want to meddle with the Supreme Court, which is probably the last thing standing between us being a democracy and an Iranian style theocracy! The Surpreme Court works just fine.
In any case, these Knesset goons want to make the Supreme Court more "balanced" - what does that mean? who will determine which judges is more "Jewish" or Zionist?
Bottom line- don't fix something if it ain't broke!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Israeli Oligarchy- What next?
I've been saying the oligarchic economy in Israel is problem for over half a decade now... But how can the government prevent these families from taking more chunks out of the economy - we are not Russia, and Bibi is NOT Putin. Aside from the fact we can't manage the economy and "democracy" like Russia and force Oligarchs to give back their wealth, who would be left to invest badly needed capital in our tiny economy should oligarchs be blocked from further corporate take-overs?
Any ideas??!
Israel's population at the end of 2010
Israel's population continues to grow at about 1.8%. This year was the highest year for aliyah in 10 years... i guess that' some good news...
For full report from Central Bureau of Statistics of Israel:
More Solar Power Plants on the way
Another solar power plant to be built on a moshav in the negev
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Fortifying our dairy with vitamin D
I am all for it! I'd also add a hefty excise tax on sweets (candies, deserts) and preservatives. Why should smokers and alcohol consumers be the only ones to pay more when the obese are an even greater- and growing, strain on our economy, healthcare, and society?
Monday, December 28, 2009
NIS 4 billion more tax revenue for 2009
More money in the purse! Now i wonder what they will do with it??
Jihadist persecution of Christians in muslim countries
Of course there is no condemnation of the brutal attacks against Christians in Muslim countries. Notice there is no talk of boycotting Muslim universities or merchandise and no "emergency" UN sessions to deal with this grave issue!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Answer to Tony Judt
Here is an Answer to Tony Judt, who is once again arguing that Jews are not a true people/nation and therefore should not have a nation state of there own:
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Income inequality in Israel- a conversation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adva_Center & http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mizrahi_Democratic_Rainbow_Coalition
One must be critical of proposed statistics from organizations with a such a clear anti-capitalist and ethno-centric agenda: Adva is a well known organization that seeks to advocate the rights of the so-called "Mizrachim."
As for Israel, it does in fact support the weaker segments of society through healthcare/social security and food subsidies, etc, but also with special programs for new immigrants and those that live in the periphery, not to mention welfare payments to able bodied people who refuse to work because of supposed religious reasons (Arab women and Haredim).
What Adva supports is a socialist style of redistribution of wealth, ie from our pockets into the pockets of people who didn't and don't want to go to University, nor do they necessarily seek a better job for themselves or improve their situation. These people prefer to be pizza delivery boys or house wives. They rather complain about the rich and professional classes making more money and hoping that they will get more government hand outs taken from those who studied hard and worked hard to get to where they are today!
The government does play and should continue to play a role in encouraging economic growth and facilitating an improvement in education and infrastructure in order to increase socio-economic mobility. But outright redistribution of wealth is catastrophic and should only be done in order to support the ill, elderly, or disabled in our society (not because they are darker skinned or born in Asia/Africa!).
http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3825148,00.html
Adva's report: http://www.adva.org/default.asp?pageid=1002&itmid=574
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
SHAS on the attack- again!
Here it goes again, the Shasniks (Israel's Taliban in the making) is trying to ban non kosher for passover food from being sold in supermarkets. Why is it so damn hard for them to just live and let live?!!! Honestly, i think that at the rate things are going, we'll end up living in a country not too different from Iran. Aside from that, no doubt Shas is doing this to gain further support from their fanatic, backward base...
Monday, December 21, 2009
Women Praying at the Western Wall
yeah, I'm gonna go there...
Women of the Wall, why shouldn't women be allowed to pray at the Western Wall of their Temple while wearing a Tallit, kipa, or reading from the Torah?
As far as I see it, the Orthos do NOT hold the monopoly on Judaism, especially considering they are a miserably small percent of world Jewry.
Moreover, it is common site to see Jewish women in North American Reform, Progressive, Conservative and Reconstructionist congregations wearing tallit and reading from the Torah (consider Bat Mitzvahs!). Why should women be prohibited from reading from the Torah and wearing Tallit, especially when they do so in the women's section of the Wall?! Who is it hurting?! Also, the fact that a Jewish woman in Israel can be fined and SENT TO PRISON for wearing a Tallit is probably one of the worst abuses of human rights i can think of in this country!! It's an embarrassment!
Israel's Immigration Police
Well, I certainly don't envy the OZ Task Force, Israel's immigration enforcement police unit. They're in a damned if you do, damned if you don't position. Apaprently, they busted an apartment that serves as a hide-away and sanctuary for illegal immigrants from Ghana- its owners also claim it was a Church! Of course, knowing full well how to "push the button" of Israelis and the International community, these rings of illegal immigrants use inflammatory rhetoric and out-right lies by claiming injustice and insensitivity. After looking deeper into the story, the apartment was perhaps occasionally an impromptu "church", but the Human Rights Organizations, who are relentless in their criticism of Israel on all fronts, were quick to jump on Israel's back on raiding the apartment.
Just how, prey tell, do Human Rights organizations suggest Israel enforce its international right to monitor, regulate, and enforce immigration!? No doubt it's like their their policy on self defense- i.e. no policy- everything is "disproportionate"
"Reformists" in the Middle East
This is in part a response to Nadav's post re: Lebanon and Syria cozying up, and also, part comment on the importance of scrutinizing so-called "reformers" in the Middle East and challenging their portrayal as the next Jeffersons of the desert.
Four years after his father was blown up by thugs associated with the Alawites, Saad Hariri decides to visit Bashar Assad and committs Lebanon to the usual economic cooperation, and of course, a few lines about the plight of the Palestinians and Israel's role as menace to the region. Next to Bashar, Hariri made clear his belief that "Israel violates the rights of Arabs." That he stands next to the man who has run around the UN request for investigating the death of his father looks insane to me. But Israel unites all. And Hariri is the reformer.
What is most disturbing to me is watching the March 14 coalition evolve, the scion of Saad Hariri and the Lebanese democrats that brought hundreds of thousands to downtown Beirut and, in no small part, led to Syria's withdrawal. I have not done enough research on March 14 to reasonably comment on the evolution of their goals, however, let it be said that these movements should not be mistaken for movements that will, b/c they are composed of men wearing deisel jeans and silk screen t-shirts, be good for Israel.
There is this false assumption which assumes that becasue the movement looks pretty, becasue its adherents look like people you'd see in Queens, then they are probably sans danger. I see a similiar thing happeneing in Iran. So much of the commentary (maybe even my own) is so naive, and very very superficial. Do we really know where these movements stand when it comes to Israel? Mousavi in Iran: do we expect this guy to offer the olive branch? Same things goes for the democrats in Egypt. In short, lets just do a little more research before we think these guys are the answer.
This is why the Hariri visit was so disheartening and leads me to be even more skeptical of these reformers we hail as answers to the region.
Four years after his father was blown up by thugs associated with the Alawites, Saad Hariri decides to visit Bashar Assad and committs Lebanon to the usual economic cooperation, and of course, a few lines about the plight of the Palestinians and Israel's role as menace to the region. Next to Bashar, Hariri made clear his belief that "Israel violates the rights of Arabs." That he stands next to the man who has run around the UN request for investigating the death of his father looks insane to me. But Israel unites all. And Hariri is the reformer.
What is most disturbing to me is watching the March 14 coalition evolve, the scion of Saad Hariri and the Lebanese democrats that brought hundreds of thousands to downtown Beirut and, in no small part, led to Syria's withdrawal. I have not done enough research on March 14 to reasonably comment on the evolution of their goals, however, let it be said that these movements should not be mistaken for movements that will, b/c they are composed of men wearing deisel jeans and silk screen t-shirts, be good for Israel.
There is this false assumption which assumes that becasue the movement looks pretty, becasue its adherents look like people you'd see in Queens, then they are probably sans danger. I see a similiar thing happeneing in Iran. So much of the commentary (maybe even my own) is so naive, and very very superficial. Do we really know where these movements stand when it comes to Israel? Mousavi in Iran: do we expect this guy to offer the olive branch? Same things goes for the democrats in Egypt. In short, lets just do a little more research before we think these guys are the answer.
This is why the Hariri visit was so disheartening and leads me to be even more skeptical of these reformers we hail as answers to the region.
Israel pushes back against Brit
Check it out.
I've been ranting about this for years. Simple principle: the peace process is a commodity. Threaten to lock parties out of it, they'll get in line. Now, the British gov does something about the ridiculous legal loophole of "Universal Jurisdiction". . . Because Netanyahu threatened to remove them from the "peace process" (should be done anyway...along with their diplomatic mission).
More must-reads:
Why never a Royal Visit? Link.
Britain and Universal Governance. Link.
I've been ranting about this for years. Simple principle: the peace process is a commodity. Threaten to lock parties out of it, they'll get in line. Now, the British gov does something about the ridiculous legal loophole of "Universal Jurisdiction". . . Because Netanyahu threatened to remove them from the "peace process" (should be done anyway...along with their diplomatic mission).
More must-reads:
Why never a Royal Visit? Link.
Britain and Universal Governance. Link.
Obama's Media Watchdog
Obama's going on the media offense...wait nothing new there (Fox News). But now we have the pleasure of "MJ" Rosenberg...another pseud-academic hiding behind two initials.
Check it out at Yid With Lid
http://yidwithlid.blogspot.com/2009/12/obama-unleashes-media-matters-to-attack.html
Check it out at Yid With Lid
http://yidwithlid.blogspot.com/2009/12/obama-unleashes-media-matters-to-attack.html
Haredim against bike lanes in Brooklyn
Brooklyn Hassidm want to close bike lanes in Williamsburg!
I guess they're learning how to bully from their Israeli compatriots...
hamas masterminded British arrest warrants
Nice to Know that Hamas has more of a say in British Law than the British government and attorney general!
North Korean arms for Iran/Hizbollah
More arms smuggling for Iran and Hizbollah, Maybe Israel should strike North Korea? We have long range missiles and submarines!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Syria and Lebanon mending ties
So can anyone enlighten me about what the hell is going on between Lebanon's Hariri and his father's killer, Assad, butcher of Damscus jr?
they're best friends now? I smell a war a'brewing!
So now Haaretz is encouraging E. Jerusalem Development...
http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1136334.html
Of course, when it means another chance to take a dig at Israel. Their consistency, at least, is admirable.
Of course, when it means another chance to take a dig at Israel. Their consistency, at least, is admirable.
Palestinian elections- to be or not to be?
Palestinian elections- will they happen or not? Seems very unlikely that elections will be held in January - or June for that matter. What's the purpose of the election anyway? a Palestinian election can hardly be deemed democratic (they weren't the last time, with the media controlled by either Hamas or Fatah and armed militiamen intimidating voters, etc), and if they were held and Abbas wins, he will still have NO control over Gaza.
Perhaps a more general question: what sort of "Palestinian" state can be created when the W. bank and Gaza are not only geographically separated, but also so ideologically, culturally, and politically miles apart?
As for Israel, how can it negotiate with a government that does not control all of its territory?
Israelis face arrest in England - not a double standard, eh?
So, if anyone has any doubts as to the anti-semitism among the british, just look at some of theses talkbacks- Der Sturmer couldn't do a better job!
All the talk about "zionist money," and other complete fabrications and outright lies about Israel is eye-opening. Usually, I look at talk backs with a grain of salt, there will always be loonies. However, what resonates for me is the kind of rhetoric used, which reminds me of my Uni days at the LSE. My classmates would talk about how the Eastern seaboard is owned by the Jews (didn't even bother with the code word "zionist") and no one, including the professor, felt a need to correct such a blatant, anti-semitic lie. Here too, in these talkbacks, people take long-standing anti-semitic beliefs as matter of fact.
I only hope that the Americans and the more educated and fair minded among our Europeans friends will continue to look beyond the lies and common prejudice and see Israel in a more balanced light.
Palestinians fire at Egyptians seeking to seal off their border with Gaza
Hamas firing at Egyptians? Maybe the world will now realize that Gaza actually shares a border with Egypt that is also sealed off (for good reason!)...
Jews as their own worst enemies
i think a lot of people have been asking why Jews are sometimes their own worst enemies...
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Gov supported newspapers?!
I don't think this is a good idea, it seems Yachimovich is turning Obamunist...
Why save a medium that is dying out..?
link:
Hizbollah in the Lebanon
Is any one surprised by this? Not even a peep from the UN or EU about the clear violation of UN res 1701. Oh well, guess we'll soon be seeing a chance of lovely missile showers raining on our children and more EU/UN-looking-the-other-way in our forecast...
Indonesia-Israel
Indonesia is investigating companies and deals involving Israeli firms... it seems that because they don't have diplomatic ties with Israel they do NOT want to trade with Israel. This is odd, since Indonesia trades extensively with Taiwan and has NO diplomatic ties with Taipei. Israel is NOT at war with Indonesia so it is not clear why this should be a security risk for them; seems to be just an excuse based on bigotry... a pity really, since there is nothing really preventing the two countries from trading, cultural collaboration, etc.
NyTimes & Saudi Insanity
This is truly a revolting piece: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/
The Saudis are insane… After being FM for since the 1970s, perhaps he should have considered some out of the box thinking, like actually recognizing Israel's right to exist and, like Jordan and Egypt, establish ties with Israel- at least at some form or public level! Or how about allowing Palys to be allowed to settle in the vat expanse of Saudi Arabia. Rather than inport a million foreign workers from Africa and India, why not allow the Palys to live there, where unlike in here, they would have no choice but to adhere to the Saud'si wahabi lifestyle..?
What pisses me off is the whole tone of the article, making him seem like some sort of Gandhi! Unvelievable
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